Bluff

By Michael Kardos

A Library Journal pre-pub pick for "top thriller."

Michael Kardos’s first two novels, The Three-Day Affair and Before He Finds Her, have both published to strong critical acclaim and solid sales (with almost 15,000 copies of each title sold across all formats).

We hope to build on that success with Kardos’s suspenseful new novel, Bluff, which brings together two unexpected and memorable female protagonists: one, a still-young but washed-up professional magician; the other a kindergarten substitute teacher slash cardsharp. Kardos has masterfully constructed this novel like a magic trick: with a tense, drawn-out set-up followed by a truly breathtaking reveal.

The Three-Day Affair, the first debut novel Otto Penzler acquired for The Mysterious Press at Grove, was named a best book of the year by Esquire, Publishers Weekly, and the Miami Herald; was reviewed by the New York Times Book Review and Esquire; and had three starred pre-pub reviews. Before He Finds Her was also reviewed in Marilyn Stasio’s NYTBR crime column and was blurbed by Jeffery Deaver and Gregg Hurwitz.

The audiobook edition of Before He Finds Her (HighBridge Audio, 2015) has been a tremendous success, with nearly 24,000 units sold in audio (digital and hard goods combined) and thousands of rave customer reviews from Audible’s listeners.

Kardos co-directs the creative writing program at Mississippi State University and has received critical acclaim for his short stories, including a 2014 Pushcart Prize (for “Animals,” originally published in Crazy Horse). His writing has strong appeal for both literary and thriller fans.

For fans of the movies “21,” “The Prestige,” and “Now You See Me,” Ann Patchett’s The Magician’s Assistant, and Jeffery Deaver’s The Vanished Man.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Release date: Apr 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9780802165671

Michael Kardos

Michael Kardos is the Pushcart Prize-winning author of the novel The Three-Day Affair and the story collection One Last Good Time. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he currently lives in Starkville, Mississippi, where he teaches creative writing.

Reviews for Bluff

[pbirch01 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am not sure where I first heard about this book but it does not seem to br that well known of a book which is a shame because it is truly an outstanding piece of fiction. The book centers around a female magician who tries to profile a cardsharp for a magazine story. The novel has many plot twists and seems tailor made to be adapted into a movie. The author also has an excellent ability to integrate history into the book in a way that adds to the narrative and does not seem overbearing. As a whole I found it to be a riveting read with great characters and realistic dialog.